European Intelligence: The US Betrayed Us In Macedonia
by Christopher Deliso in Skopje
antiwar.com
June 22, 2002
SKOPJE - The US government was accused today of subsidizing and training
Albanian paramilitaries in Macedonia, in a secret European report leaked
to Dutch National Radio.
The furor over a clandestine connection- frequently alleged, but never
proven- further worsens transatlantic relations that have already been
strained by an ongoing trade war. The Dutch report comes at a
particularly sensitive time for President Bush, who is currently seeking
to solidify international support for a wider war on terror. The US
Embassy in Skopje was not aware of the charges by late Friday evening,
and could not yet make an official statement.
Because specific details were not permitted to be leaked, the report was
filtered through the Klingerdaar Institute (a respected Dutch military
analysis firm). Klingerdaar in turn gave the salient information to
Dutch Radio, which also interviewed several individuals who had been
involved in Macedonia. The investigation centered on several
controversial episodes,
including the battle of Arachinovo (26 June 2001), and the ?Essential
Harvest? weapons collection mission in September.
Even before this new report, American involvement had long been
suspected at the three-day battle in Aracinovo, a heavily Albanian town
northeast of Skopje. As the battle progressed, the Macedonians claimed
to be on the verge of eliminating NLA forces. Yet suddenly they were
given the order to pull back, and NATO buses rolled in to escort the
heavily-armed Albanians out. At the time, NATO claimed that this
intervention was vital, because the Albanians were coming dangerously
close to victory, and mediation was needed.
The story from many witnesses, however, was very different. German
newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt reported that 17 American military
advisors from MPRI (the Virginia-based private military company) were
also evacuated with the Albanians. This, Macedonians declared, was the
real reason for NATO?s intercession. But while MPRI had an official
contract as Macedonian Army
advisors, suggestions of a similar presence with the Albanians were
vigorously denied.
The Dutch report confirms the link, however, and quotes the German
reporter who filed the original story. Apparently one of the MPRI men
had been captured by the Macedonians. He panicked, and, waving his US
passport, shouted ?diplomatic immunity!? Through heavy US intercession,
the man was freed and evacuated together with his comrades and the NLA
fighters. European sources identified this particular individual as
having been active in training Bosnian fighters in the 1990?s.
According to the Dutch report, there are still many unanswered questions
about Operation ?Essential Harvest.? At the time, NATO decided that
collecting approximately 3,500 weapons would sufficiently disarm the
Albanians. Yet after the collections began, Macedonians charged the NLA
with giving up only their oldest and least useable guns. Museum curators
in Skopje sarcastically asked that the Albanians? WWII-era pistols be
donated to their collection.
The Europeans claim that NATO was well aware that antiquated guns were
being
surrendered- and further, that not even four percent of these weapons
could be fired.
More damning still is testimony from Macedonian intelligence services,
who claim that NATO merely exchanged the Albanians? old weapons for new
ones. This story comes independently of the Dutch report, from one
individual who secretly watched ?Essential Harvest? through binoculars
from a nearby mountainside.
During the war, the Dutch report also states, constant telephone
connection was maintained between Albanian rebels and high-level
American officials. Some of these conversations were taped by European
intelligence. At some
point the Americans became aware that they were being tapped, and
discontinued direct phone contact. At this point, the Europeans claim,
America purchased computers with phone technology for the NLA. Thus
communications were restored.
This stunning report comes at a time when Holland is taking over NATO?s
Macedonia command from the Germans. Some analysts are viewing the
denunciation of the US involvement as a direct invitation to the Hague
for American leaders- just as the US has been reiterating its opposition
to a world court.
Last year?s war in Macedonia was started by the self-declared National
Liberation Army (NLA), an Albanian militant group originally denounced
by NATO spokesman George Robertson as ?murderous thugs.? As the war
proceeded, however, the ?terrorists? were legitimized into ?freedom
fighters.? Heavy Western pressure forced a restrained response from the
Macedonian army. As a result, the war was dragged out, and the
Macedonian government was forced to negotiate with the NLA and its
chief, Ali Ahmeti.
Despite winning new rights across the board, such as an amnesty for NLA
members, use of Albanian language and devolved local government,
Albanian kidnappings, shootings and bombings have continued after the
cease-fire. The heavy NATO and OSCE presence has been unable or
unwilling to solve many of these crimes. Although he remains on George
Bush?s terrorist blacklist, Ali Ahmeti has started his own political
party, and is now becoming acknowledged as a political player in
Macedonia. Previous articles by Christopher Deliso on Antiwar.com
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